English take on a Japanese book in the late 19th century
Japanese Topsyturvydom.
[Tokyo: Hasegawa, 1896].
Price: $700.00
About the item
First. Color iillustrations throughout. [40] pp. Printed on crepe. 1 vols. Illustrations. 40 pp. English take on a Japanese book in the late 19th century. Original three-quarters morocco binding with modern green cloth and endpapers.
Item #255558
An unusual English book, printed on crepe, mimicking traditional Japanese illustrated books. This book was written and printed at a time when the English-speaking world was particularly mesmerized by Japan. Many of Britain's citizens had been introduced to Japanese individuals and culture at the 1862 International Exhibition in London--Gilbert and Sullivan's Mikado followed, along with the short story "Madame Butterfly" by the American John Luther Long.
This book explains to the English-speaking Westerner not only how Japanese books "work" (i.e., from back to front), but describes many aspects of Japanese culture and life.
Dedicated to Mark Twain by the English author, who lived in and signs the dedication "Yokahama."
